Today- June 30, 2010 -
At least 583 sea turtles have been impacted be the deadly duo of the Gulf oil spill and increased fishing pressure in the limited areas open for shrimping, and 436 have been reported as dead. These numbers are likely a small fraction of the true number of sea turtles killed in the Gulf.
Many experts agree hatchlings from sea turtle nesting this year are in jeopardy of being completely wiped-out by the oil, and an official plan is now being finalized to respond. Nests in Gulf states impacted by the oil will be relocated by the hundreds to cleaner shores on the Atlantic coast of Florida. Officials are planning to dig up the approximately 700 nests on Alabama and the Florida panhandle beaches. Translocation of nests on this scale has never been attempted before.
"This is really a worst-case scenario," says Michael Ziccardi, a University of California, Davis, veterinarian and oil-spill veteran who is leading the government's response efforts for marine mammals and sea turtles.
Nests are currently well marked on beaches to protect them from BP cleanup crew, and the translocation of the nests could begin in only a few weeks, says Ziccardi. The operations will continue well past laying season, which ends in August, because eggs incubate for about 60 days.
Officials say logistics of finding contractors to train and lead collection teams is daunting, but the Sea Turtle Restoration Project has already collected resumes from many qualified sea turtle biologists who are ready to help in the Gulf. Our efforts to assist in recovery efforts are moving forward, and we hope to assist with nest relocations with qualified biologists as soon as possible.
How You Can Help
1) Demand ALL sea turtles are rescued from the corralled oil in BP's "Burn Boxes" that are setting wildlife on fire with spilled oil.
2) Call for an end to oil drilling in your comments to strengthen the Kemp’s ridley Recovery Plan on Gulf of Mexico beaches.
3) Email the Obama administration to demand a new moratorium on offshore oil drilling, Sea Turtles and Oil Don't Mix!.
4) Support our efforts to focus beach protections on critical sea turtle nesting beaches.
5) If you are a Northern California resident that can volunteer in our office during this critical time for sea turtles, contact Sea Turtle Restoration Project staff
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Rescue ALL Sea Turtles from Burning Oil
Multiple eye-witness accounts have established that endangered sea turtles are being burned alive in BP's cleanup efforts. Immediate change must occur so that ALL sea turtles are rescued from the Gulf Oil Spill as a top priority by Unified Command.
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1723/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=4174
Find out more at www.seaturtles.org
Day 1 in the Gulf
Day 1 in the Gulf: learned location of sea turtle rehab center we will work with and am coordinating a visit to confirm logistics. Long travel day was punctuated by updates from partners in airport lounges. Unfortunate delays mean we won't be on the water for several days.
Take action to save sea turtles from the Gulf oils spill at http://www.seaturtles.org
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